Stretcher for crochet mats



' Dec. 24 1946.

A. c. FERGUSON 2,413,041

STRETCHER FOR CROCHET MATS Filed Jan. 11, 1944 By QM eon pave; 196];

/Z I Inventor ,H

Patented Dec. 24, 1946 STRETCHER F OR CROCHET MATS Albert C. Ferguson, Jacksonville, Fla. Application January 11, 1944, SerialNo. 517,844

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved stretcher particularly designed for use in stretching crochet mats, but capable of use in stretching other articles Of a similar nature.

The invention contemplates a device of the above kind embodying a stretcher board provided with numerous openings for selective reception of stretching pins used. to hold the article being stretched in a fiat and taut condition upon the stretching board, and a cover board hinged at one edge to an edge of the stretching board and foldable onto the latter to retain the stretching pins in the openings of the stretching board for convenient storage against loss when the device is not in use.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of tretching pins having heads of greater diameter than the openings in the stretcher board, so that when the cover board is, folded onto the stretcher board it will engage the heads of the stretching pins and effectively retain them in place within the openings of the stretcher board, means being provided to separably connect the stretcher and cover boards to retain the cover board in its position upon the stretcher board.

A further feature of the invention is to provide headed stretching pins having stems or shanks of polygonal cross sectional form and-tapering smaller from the head end to the opposite end so that when the of the stretcher board, they will have a wedging or stretching action upon the article being stretched and engaged by said pins.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shownin the drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a stretcher constructed in accordance with the present invention and unfolded for use.

Figure 2 is an edge elevational view thereof looking upwardly at Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in section, illustrating the manner of using the ins to hold a crochet mat on the stretching board.

pins are inserted in the openings,

Figure 5 is a small edge elevation of the stretcher in folded position and looking at the front of the device, the view illustrating the man ner in which the cover board retains the stretching pins in place within the openings of the stretcher board when the device is not in use, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective View of one of the stretching pins.

Referring in detail to the drawing, thepresent invention includes a rectangular, relatively thick stretching board 5 having numerous uniformly spaced and closely related stretching pinreceiving openings 6. Hinged at one edge to one edge of the stretching board 5, as at I, is a relatively thin cover board 8 of the same form and area as the stretching board 5. The hinges 1 are such as to permit the cover board 8 to be folded over onto the stretcher board 5, and. a suitable swinging catch 9 is provided to engage a pin ID for holding the cover in this folded position. As shown, the swinging catch or hook 9 is pivoted to .th edge of stretcher board 5 opposite-that to which the cover board 8 is hinged, and the pin It is carried by the edge of cover board 8 opposite that which is hinged to the stretcher board 5.

The invention contemplates the provision of a suitable number of similar stretching pins of the form shown in Figure 6 for cooperation with the board 5, each pin including a relatively long shank ll of polygonal cross section and having a head 12 on one end in the form of a relatively large flat disc, the shank ll tapering smaller from the head l2 to the other end and being of a size to be fully received in any opening 6 of the stretcher board 5. The head 52 of each pin is of considerably greater diameter than any opening 6 so that it will limit the passage of the pin through the opening when its head engages the stretcher board 5.

In use, the pins are suitably placed in openings 6 of board 5 from the back to engage the edges or edge members of the mat It being stretched from the front, as shown in Figure 4. The pins are merely inserted through the edge portions or members of the mat, the tapering shanks or stems of the stretching pins acting to impart a wedging action on the mat and a certain amount of stretching action upon the latter. However, the principal stretching action is, of course, had by inserting the pins relative to the mat and then pulling outwardly on the mat edges and hooking th mat edges over the pins.

It will be noted that when the pins are all inserted in openings of the board 5, the cover board I 8 may be folded onto the stretching board 5 and upon the heads i2 of the pins. By then engaging the hook or catch 9 with pin Hi, the device is retained in folded condition and the cover board will efiectively retain the pins in place for proper storage against loss when the device is not in use.

1. A stretcher of the character described comprising a rectangular stretcher board of a size greater than the article to be stretched and having numerous similar uniformly spaced stretcher pin-receiving openings therethrough substantially throughout the area thereof, individual stretcher pins for selective reception in desired ones of the openings of the stretcher board and having heads to prevent passage of the pins entirely through the board, and a cover board of similar size and shape as that of the stretcher board hinged at one edge to one edge of said stretcher board for folding onto the latter and engageable with the heads of pins positioned in the openings of the stretcher board for retaining the latter in place against loss when the device is not in use, and means to releasably retain the cover board in folded position upon the stretcher board.

2. A stretcher of the character described comprising a rectangular stretcher board of a size greater than the article to be stretched and having numerous similar uniformly spaced stretcher pin-receiving openings therethrough substantially throughout the area thereof, individual stretcher pins for selective reception in desired ones of the openings of the stretcher board and having heads to prevent passage of the pins entirely through the board, and a cover board of similar size and shape as that of the stretcher board hinged at one edge to one edge of said stretcher board for folding onto the latter and engageable with the heads of pins positioned in the openings of the stretcher board for retaining the latter in place against loss when the device is not in use, and means to releasably retain the cover board in folded position upon the stretcher board, said cover board being relatively thin, said stretcher board being somewhat thicker than the cover board, and said pins having shanks of polygonal cross section which taper smaller from the head end to the other end thereof so as to have a stretching action on the article to be stretched when said pins are inserted in the openings and engaged in the edges of the article.

ALBERT C. FERGUSON. 

